Beela Rajesh (IAS) Wiki, Age, Husband, Caste, Children, Family, Biography & More

Bio/Wiki
Profession	Civil Servant (IAS)
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 161 cm in meters- 1.61 m in feet & inches- 5’ 3”
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Civil Service
Service	Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Batch	1997
Cadre	Tamil Nadu
Major Designation(s)	• Energy Secretary: Tamil Nadu (19 June 2023 - present) • Chief Secretary: Commercial Taxes and Registration Department of State of Tamil Nadu (12 June 2020 - 19 June 2023) • Health Secretary: Tamil Nadu (from 17 February 2019 – 12 June 2020) • Commissioner: Medicines/Health & Family Welfare, Chennai (from 24 December 2018 to 16 February 2019) • Commissioner: Town & Country Planning, Tamil Nadu (from 30 May 2017 to 23 December 2018) • Joint Secretary: Tamil Nadu (from 19 May 2014 to 29 May 2017) • Joint Secretary: Jharkhand (from 3 May 2014 to 19 May 2014) • Executive Director: M/o Textiles Handloom Exp Promotion Cl (HEPC) Chennai (from 2 May 2007 to 1 May 2012) • Managing Director: M/o Textiles Handloom Exp Promotion Cl (HEPC) Chennai (from 2 May 2007 to 2 May 2014) • Collector: Dhanbad, Jharkhand (from 1 January 2006 to 2 May 2007) • Deputy Commissioner: Dhanbad, Jharkhand (from 10 February 2004 to 31 December 2005) • Joint Secretary: Chief Minister’s Sectt (from 25 August 2003 to 9 February 2004) • Director: Education Department (from 25 July 2003 to 24 August 2003) • Deputy Secretary: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (from 21 June 2003 to 24 July 2003) • Additional Director: Social Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu (from 24 August 2002 to 21 June 2003) • Special Officer: Tamil Nadu (Inter-Cadre Deputation) (from 24 May 2001 to 24 August 2002) • Assistant Collector: Tamil Nadu, the district is not specified (1 January 2001 to 24 May 2001) • Assistant Collector: Tamil Nadu; the district is not specified (from 11 July 2000 to 1 January 2001) • Under Secretary: Finance Department (from 1 March 2000 to 1 July 2000) • Assistant Collector: Bhojpur, Bihar (from 1 September 1997 to 1 March 2000)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	15 November 1969 (Saturday) [1]SUPREMO
Age (as of 2022)	53 Years
Birthplace	Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu
Zodiac sign	Scorpio
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Chennai, Tamil Nadu
College/University	Madras Medical College (MMC)
Educational Qualification	MBBS from Madras Medical College (MMC) [2]SUPREMO
Caste	Not Known
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	Year, 1992
Family
Husband/Spouse	Rajesh Das (IPS officer)
Children	Son- None Daughter- 2 • Pinky • Preethu
Parents	Father- SN Venkatesan (a retired Director General of Police) Mother- Rani Venkatesan (politician)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Dr. Beela Rajesh

• Dr. Beela Rajesh is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who rocketed to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic when she regularly appeared at press conferences as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu.

• She grew up in a highly influential family of Madras. Her father, SN Venkatesan is a retired DGP while her mother, Rani Venkatesan, a native of Nagercoil, was a veteran Congress politician in Tamil Nadu.

• After completing her MBBS from Madras Medical College (MMC), she started preparing for the civil services and in 1997, she became an IAS officer after her success in the UPSC examination.

• After successfully completing her training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussorie, Dr. Beela got her first posting in the form of the Assitant Collector in Bihar’s Bhojpur district.

• Since her induction into the prestigious Indian Administrative Service, Dr. Beela has served at various key positions in the governments of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu.
  

  Beela Rajesh in Her Office

• The Tamil Nadu government appointed Dr. Beela Rajesh as the Health Secretary of the state on 17 February 2019.

• Her appointment as the Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu was no less than a surprise to many in the state as she had never experienced a portfolio this crucial.

• Some officials credited her elevation to the post of Health Secretary to her medical background. According to a retired bureaucrat, her medical education helped her to get such a prestigious post, he said,
  

  As someone who understands the subject, Dr Beela Rajesh, will have a firm grasp over what is happening.”

• Before her elevation to the post of the Principal Secretary of Health in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Beela served as the Commissioner for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy in Tamil Nadu.
  

  Beela Rajesh in an official meeting

• Within a few days of her joining as the Health Secretary, a number of challenges started coming into her way. The first major challenge was nine maternal death due to infected blood, and she had to face public outrage. The second challenge was when Dr. Beela had to confront the doctors who failed to record rape after they examined the body of a deceased Adivasi girl in the Dharmapuri district. Thereafter, she faced the statewide strikes of doctors and nurses. In an interview, a senior journalist explained the challenges faced by Dr. Beela, he said,
  

  These are big challenges for an IAS officer who has just come to the post. But she handled it with an iron fist. An inquiry was launched into the maternal deaths, cases were filed against the doctors who failed to record rape, and medical practitioners who failed to report to duty were transferred. She made it clear that breach of protocol is not okay.” ^[3]The News Minute

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, when she started appearing at press conferences, it was her first interaction with media personnel at such a large scale. Some journalists even complained about her impatient attitude to answer the questions asked by media personnel. One such journalist, while talking about her behaviour, said,
  

  She has never had to handle the media or such a large battalion of officers under her. And this sometimes reflects in her impatient attitude towards any questions about her decisions or work during this pandemic.” ^[4]The News Minute

  

  Beela Rajesh at a Press Conference During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Some officials working in close quarters with her department also hail her approach to deal with situations like COVID-19. A source in the Chief Minister’s office of Tamil Nadu says –
  

  Her job is to give the statistics and she is doing that. I agree that she does not come across as accessible but that is just her nature. She is known to be curt and limited within bureaucratic circles, even to those that she has to report to.”

• A few subordinates working with Dr. Beela’s have also talked about her impatience. One such subordinate of Dr. Beela, on the condition of anonymity, said –
  

  We follow madam’s orders. There is no question of doing it any other way.” ^[5]The News Minute

• A retired bureaucrat while praising Dr. Beela, said –
  

  As an administrator, Dr. Beela Rajesh is very efficient, no doubt. Any issue that comes to her notice is immediately taken care of. However her colleagues have mentioned that they find the atmosphere difficult to work in as the Secretary is not as approachable as her predecessors.” ^[6]The News Minute